Mapleton, Iowa - Glenn F. Marsh, 64, of Mapleton, Iowa passed away Monday, January 6, 2014, at his home in Mapleton following a short illness. The funeral service will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton with Pastor Scott Jensen officiating. Burial will be at Heisler Cemetery at Mapleton with military graveside honors provided by the American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496 of Mapleton. Visitation will be Friday, January 10 after 4:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Glenn Floyd Marsh was born July 18, 1949, in Mapleton, Iowa, the son of Floyd and Alberta (Christiansen) Marsh. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peterís United Church of Christ in Mapleton. He was raised on the family farm south of Mapleton and graduated from Maple Valley High School with the class of 1967. During his high school years Glenn worked building houses with his Uncle Kenny Marsh in the Des Moines area. Glenn furthered his formal education by first attending Iowa State University and later transferred to the University of Iowa until he was drafted in 1970 and enlisted into the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and received training as an Air Traffic Controller at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxie, Missouri. He was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas where he worked in the Control Tower. It was there that Glenn joined the Combat Control Team and then received Airborne Jump Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing Combat Control School in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was stationed at Milden Hall, England. As a lead Air Traffic Controller, he was instrumental in a four nation air drop in England, Turkey, Italy and the United States. During this time, he had 85 parachute jumps including Hot Air Balloon, HU1D (Huey) Helicopter, C-123, C-130, and C-141. He was also a Jump Master and Parachute Rigger. He served in the Air Force from July of 1970 to July of 1974.

Glenn was married in 1972 to which one child, Hunter, was born in July of 1981. In 1980 Glenn moved back to Mapleton until the present to farm and build homes.

Glenn met Durene Aldag and together, with open hearts, both embraced each otherís families and life took on a new level of happiness for them all. They were married April 1, 2003 at St. Thomas Virgin Islands. As a couple they have owned and operated The Great Outdoors RV Center in Mapleton from 2003 until the present. The company they represented, KZ, rewarded them annually with lavish trips to exotic vacation locations all over the world.

Glenn was gifted with the ability to envision a project, draw it free hand, and create that vision true to itís completion and loved doing it. Due to his self taught skills, he was able to build and remodel any project without involving other professionals. He just knew how to BUILD it and FIX it!

He was a member of the American Legion Loren Hollister Post #496 of Mapleton. He was also a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton where he joined the Praise Team. He was self taught in playing a 12 string guitar, able to play songs by ear without ever reading music. He played and sang songs he created from the heart, whether funny or passionate about the loved ones he loved.

Glenn reveled in being a grandpa by talking, teaching, joking, playing, and totally loving his grandchildren. They completed his world.

He and Durene spent winters with family and friends camping in Rio Grand Valley in Texas. Glenn also enjoyed golfing with family and friends.

Those survivors left to cherish their memories of Glenn include his wife, Durene; one son, Hunter Marsh of Waterloo, Iowa; step daughter and her husband, Melanie and Mike Hargens of Schleswig, Iowa; step son Matthew Petersen and his fiancee, Chelsea Thomas of Schleswig, Iowa; step daughter and her husband, Mindi and Shawn Ohlmeier of Mapleton, Iowa; seven grandchildren, McKinzie and Ezden Hargens, Jayden and Adelynn Petersen, and Tyler, Trista, and Taya Ohlmeier; one sister and her husband, Marlys and Jim Engle of Early, Iowa; one brother and his wife, Gregg and Kathy Marsh also of Mapleton, Iowa; along with nieces and nephews and other extended family members; and numerous good friends and neighbors.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Alberta Marsh; one brother-in-law, David Aldag; and one his best friends, Larry ďMortĒ Mordhorst.